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| | Great Mississippi Flood "1927: massive river flood displaced 700,000 persons; African Americans migrated from South to northern cities" | | Great Mississippi Flood "1927: massive river flood displaced 700,000 persons; African Americans migrated from South to northern cities" |
| | Kellogg-Briand Pact (or Treaty) 1928: outlawed war; ineffective because it had no way to be enforced | | Kellogg-Briand Pact (or Treaty) 1928: outlawed war; ineffective because it had no way to be enforced |
| | + | |
| | + | == Stock Market Crash == |
| | + | |
| | + | Herbert Hoover "Repub. Pres. 1928-32: wanted bus. cooperation, opposed union & trust busting, critical of Europe, cut taxes" |
| | + | " sought voluntary wage and price controls to end Depression, opposed new federal programs" |
| | + | Stock market crash "Oct. 1929, but rallied afterwards; tariffs are considered a greater cause of Depression than stock market crash" |
| | + | Hawley-Smoot Tariff "1930: increased tariffs, setting off worldwide round of tariff increases in 1931, worsening Depression" |
| | + | Causes of Depression "tariffs, gold standard, concentration of wealth, unregulation speculation on markets" |
| | + | Reconstruction Finance Corp "1932: created a federal agency to lend money to banks, later lent money to businesses also" |
| | + | Bonus March "1932: poor WWI soldiers march on DC for bonus, riots broke out" |
| | | | |
| | + | |
| | + | Then, in 1929, the stock market suddenly crashed. The era of prosperity was over. The Great Depression had begun. Historians blame this partly on speculators driving up the stock market, but actually no one really knows what the cause of the Depression was. Unemployment increased until it exceeded 20% in 1933, meaning that one out of every five families was out of work and likely without money also. |
| | + | |
| | + | The Great Depression caused voters to switch to the Democratic Party, which took control of the Presidency (through FDR) and Congress in 1932. They ended Prohibition by passing an amendment to repeal it. They began enacting many new laws and programs to try to generate jobs. |
| | + | |
| | + | == FDR, the New Deal, and Preparing for War == |
| | + | |
| | + | The economy improved a little from 1933 to 1940, but the depression never really ended. In 1937, FDR became so frustrated with the Supreme Court’s invalidation of his New Deal programs that he proposed his “court-packing” scheme to appoint new Justices to the Supreme Court who would be favorable to him. Even members of FDR’s own Democratic Party opposed this violation of the checks and balances in the Constitution, and FDR lost much of his credibility. He weakened himself with this proposal, which never passed. |
| | + | |
| | + | The only end to the Great Depression was going to be our entry into war: World War II. |
| | | | |
| | Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dem. Pres. 1932-45: started massive federal works and relief programs | | Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dem. Pres. 1932-45: started massive federal works and relief programs |
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| | Atlantic Charter "July 1941: FDR and Churchill declare purpose to WWII, based on world peace, like 14 points in WWI" | | Atlantic Charter "July 1941: FDR and Churchill declare purpose to WWII, based on world peace, like 14 points in WWI" |
| | U-Boats German submarines in WWII that sunk ships | | U-Boats German submarines in WWII that sunk ships |
| | + | |
| | + | == World War II == |
| | + | |
| | + | At first, the American public was very reluctant to get involved in World War II. FDR did not have the public support necessary to commit to such a big war. However, there is evidence that our code-breakers had broken the Japanese codes used to communicate their military messages, and that we knew Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor. FDR did nothing to prevent the attack, and news of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941 outraged the American public against Japan. The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th). Only one congressman voted against the declaration of war. Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too. That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war. |
| | + | |
| | + | The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism. FDR forcibly moved Japanese-Americans in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship. The Supreme Court upheld this violation of their constitutional rights in Korematsu v. United States. This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in Worcester v. Georgia. |
| | + | |
| | + | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.) |
| | + | |
| | + | As president, Truman was an impulsive and not very bright man. He still holds the record for the lowest approval rating (only 23% of the country approving of his performance) in his last year in office (1952). When there was an ugly strike against a steel company, he impulsively ordered a government takeover of the entire company (the Supreme Court later invalidated his action). When a reporter wrote a negative review about his daughter’s piano recital, Truman said he wanted to punch the reporter in the face for it. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted to be more aggressive in the Korean War, Truman simply fired him. Drop the atom bomb on Japan? Do it, Truman decided quickly, and later said he slept a good night’s sleep the night he decided. Truman’s impulsiveness may remind you of President Andrew Jackson. |
| | + | |
| | Pearl Harbor "Dec. 7, 1941: Japan attacks naval base in Hawaii, sinks our fleet" | | Pearl Harbor "Dec. 7, 1941: Japan attacks naval base in Hawaii, sinks our fleet" |
| | D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland" | | D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland" |
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| | Bretton Woods/World Bank July 1944: 44 nations set up International Monetary Fund | | Bretton Woods/World Bank July 1944: 44 nations set up International Monetary Fund |
| | Dumbarton Oaks/United Nations "Aug-Oct. 1944: China, GB, USSR, US draft plans for UN, incl. Security Council" | | Dumbarton Oaks/United Nations "Aug-Oct. 1944: China, GB, USSR, US draft plans for UN, incl. Security Council" |
| − | Full Employment Act 1946: watered-down version of fed. govt. backing full employment
| |
| − | Loyalty Boards 1947: Truman checks on govt employees to ensure not Communists
| |
| − | Taft-Hartley Act "1947: conservative response to growing power of unions, passed over Truman's veto. Gave workers right not to join"
| |
| − | unions where allowed by state law; unions must give 60-day notice of strike; fed govt can block for 80 days
| |
| − | Truman Doctrine "1947: Truman pledges economic aid for democratic countries opposing communism, beginning w/ Greece & Turkey"
| |
| − | George Kennan/Containment "1947: State Dept official Kennan publishes US goal to ""contain"" Communism, underlay Cold War"
| |
| − | National Security Act/Council 1947: estab. Council as advisory body to President on national security issues; used CIA as info-gatherer organiz.
| |
| − | Marshall Plan "1947: financial assistance to European economies struggling from WWII, Communists reject it"
| |
| − | Jackie Robinson "1947: broke ""color barrier"" by becoming first black baseball player in Major Leagues, for Brooklyn Dodgers"
| |
| − | Organization of American States 1947: Latin American organization incl. US to handle issues
| |
| − | Central Intelligence Agency "1947: Gathers intelligence through ""overt and covert"" methods; uses info collected by all agencies; sets intell. goals"
| |
| − | """Iron Curtain""" 1945-90: Churchill's phrase to describe Communist capture of East. Europe nations
| |
| − | North Atlantic Trty Org. (NATO) 1948: rejects George Washington's farewell address w/ foreign alliance to stop Communism
| |
| − | Youngstown Sheet & Tube case "1952: Sup. Ct. invalidates Truman's seizure of steel mills, which he did to avert a strike during Korean War"
| |
| − | House Un-American Activ. Com. "1948-50s: investigated Alger Hiss case, convicted Communists in America, including ""Hollywood Ten"""
| |
| − | Whittaker Chambers/Alger Hiss "1948: Chambers (ed. of Time) says Hiss was Comm.; shows microfilms; Hiss convicted of perjury, jailed 5 yrs"
| |
| − | Ethel and Julius Rosenberg 1950s: executed for selling atomic bomb secrets to USSR
| |
| − |
| |
| − | == Stock Market Crash ==
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Herbert Hoover "Repub. Pres. 1928-32: wanted bus. cooperation, opposed union & trust busting, critical of Europe, cut taxes"
| |
| − | " sought voluntary wage and price controls to end Depression, opposed new federal programs"
| |
| − | Stock market crash "Oct. 1929, but rallied afterwards; tariffs are considered a greater cause of Depression than stock market crash"
| |
| − | Hawley-Smoot Tariff "1930: increased tariffs, setting off worldwide round of tariff increases in 1931, worsening Depression"
| |
| − | Causes of Depression "tariffs, gold standard, concentration of wealth, unregulation speculation on markets"
| |
| − | Reconstruction Finance Corp "1932: created a federal agency to lend money to banks, later lent money to businesses also"
| |
| − | Bonus March "1932: poor WWI soldiers march on DC for bonus, riots broke out"
| |
| | | | |
| − |
| |
| − | Then, in 1929, the stock market suddenly crashed. The era of prosperity was over. The Great Depression had begun. Historians blame this partly on speculators driving up the stock market, but actually no one really knows what the cause of the Depression was. Unemployment increased until it exceeded 20% in 1933, meaning that one out of every five families was out of work and likely without money also.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The Great Depression caused voters to switch to the Democratic Party, which took control of the Presidency (through FDR) and Congress in 1932. They ended Prohibition by passing an amendment to repeal it. They began enacting many new laws and programs to try to generate jobs.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The economy improved a little from 1933 to 1940, but the depression never really ended. In 1937, FDR became so frustrated with the Supreme Court’s invalidation of his New Deal programs that he proposed his “court-packing” scheme to appoint new Justices to the Supreme Court who would be favorable to him. Even members of FDR’s own Democratic Party opposed this violation of the checks and balances in the Constitution, and FDR lost much of his credibility. He weakened himself with this proposal, which never passed.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The only end to the Great Depression was going to be our entry into war: World War II.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | At first, the American public was very reluctant to get involved in World War II. FDR did not have the public support necessary to commit to such a big war. However, there is evidence that our code-breakers had broken the Japanese codes used to communicate their military messages, and that we knew Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor. FDR did nothing to prevent the attack, and news of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941 outraged the American public against Japan. The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th). Only one congressman voted against the declaration of war. Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too. That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism. FDR forcibly moved Japanese-Americans in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship. The Supreme Court upheld this violation of their constitutional rights in Korematsu v. United States. This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in Worcester v. Georgia.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.)
| |
| − |
| |
| − | As president, Truman was an impulsive and not very bright man. He still holds the record for the lowest approval rating (only 23% of the country approving of his performance) in his last year in office (1952). When there was an ugly strike against a steel company, he impulsively ordered a government takeover of the entire company (the Supreme Court later invalidated his action). When a reporter wrote a negative review about his daughter’s piano recital, Truman said he wanted to punch the reporter in the face for it. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted to be more aggressive in the Korean War, Truman simply fired him. Drop the atom bomb on Japan? Do it, Truman decided quickly, and later said he slept a good night’s sleep the night he decided. Truman’s impulsiveness may remind you of President Andrew Jackson.
| |
| | | | |
| | == Immigration == | | == Immigration == |
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| | | | |
| | What is your view? | | What is your view? |
| − |
| |
| | | | |
| | == Post World War II == | | == Post World War II == |
| Line 188: |
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| | | | |
| | For the purposes of American history, simply remember that the Taft-Hartley Act finally ended the unions’ enormous power. And not a moment too soon, because crippling strikes hurt the country’s economy in 1946 after the end of World War II. Ever since passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, Democrats have tried to repeal it, without success. | | For the purposes of American history, simply remember that the Taft-Hartley Act finally ended the unions’ enormous power. And not a moment too soon, because crippling strikes hurt the country’s economy in 1946 after the end of World War II. Ever since passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, Democrats have tried to repeal it, without success. |
| | + | |
| | + | Full Employment Act 1946: watered-down version of fed. govt. backing full employment |
| | + | Loyalty Boards 1947: Truman checks on govt employees to ensure not Communists |
| | + | Taft-Hartley Act "1947: conservative response to growing power of unions, passed over Truman's veto. Gave workers right not to join" |
| | + | unions where allowed by state law; unions must give 60-day notice of strike; fed govt can block for 80 days |
| | + | Truman Doctrine "1947: Truman pledges economic aid for democratic countries opposing communism, beginning w/ Greece & Turkey" |
| | + | George Kennan/Containment "1947: State Dept official Kennan publishes US goal to ""contain"" Communism, underlay Cold War" |
| | + | National Security Act/Council 1947: estab. Council as advisory body to President on national security issues; used CIA as info-gatherer organiz. |
| | + | Marshall Plan "1947: financial assistance to European economies struggling from WWII, Communists reject it" |
| | + | Jackie Robinson "1947: broke ""color barrier"" by becoming first black baseball player in Major Leagues, for Brooklyn Dodgers" |
| | + | Organization of American States 1947: Latin American organization incl. US to handle issues |
| | + | Central Intelligence Agency "1947: Gathers intelligence through ""overt and covert"" methods; uses info collected by all agencies; sets intell. goals" |
| | + | """Iron Curtain""" 1945-90: Churchill's phrase to describe Communist capture of East. Europe nations |
| | + | North Atlantic Trty Org. (NATO) 1948: rejects George Washington's farewell address w/ foreign alliance to stop Communism |
| | + | Youngstown Sheet & Tube case "1952: Sup. Ct. invalidates Truman's seizure of steel mills, which he did to avert a strike during Korean War" |
| | + | House Un-American Activ. Com. "1948-50s: investigated Alger Hiss case, convicted Communists in America, including ""Hollywood Ten""" |
| | + | Whittaker Chambers/Alger Hiss "1948: Chambers (ed. of Time) says Hiss was Comm.; shows microfilms; Hiss convicted of perjury, jailed 5 yrs" |
| | + | Ethel and Julius Rosenberg 1950s: executed for selling atomic bomb secrets to USSR |
| | | | |
| | == United Nations == | | == United Nations == |